Ben the Hero!

On Sunday Night we invited the pastoral staff over for a pre-Memorial Day Barbeque. (Well, it wasn’t really a barbeque, because my grill is broken and I can’t find the replacement parts. But that’s another story. UGH!) Anyway, the staff came over for a little food, fun and swimming in the icy waters of the Prince Pool.

At Karla’s request, Pastor Jamie brought his dog, Riley. Karla thought that Riley and Maggie (the Prince Pooch) would have great fun playing together. She believed that Maggie needed a new friend. While Maggie has never indicated to me that she lacked fellow canine companionship, I certainly did not object to the idea of Maggie playing with a new puppy friend instead of “hounding” the rest of us for food and attention.

You need to know a few things about Riley. Pastor Jamie and Heather think he is a mix between Chihuahua and Jack Russell terrier. He is the size of a Chihuahua, but looks like a Jack Russell. About six months old, Riley is still very much a puppy and very cute. If you know much about the various dog breeds then you know that both Chihuahua’s and Jack Russell’s tend to be a little active. Anyone who has been around puppies of any kind knows that they tend to be a little active too. So with that combo of Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix and being a puppy-- think of Riley as a doggy version of an A.D.H.D., whirling dervish. Einstein was wrong, it’s not E = MC2, its E = Riley!

Well, Jamie brought Riley and this is what happened:

No sooner had Riley set his paws in our back yard, he started chasing Maggie. Maggie, not quite sure she liked this barking ball of energy, retreated to the far side of the pool. Riley was in hot pursuit, when he reached the pool. It’s my assumption that Riley had never seen a swimming pool in his six months of life, but apparently he is a believer in the fact that the closest route between two points is a straight line. Or maybe because of the fine theological influence of our own Pastor Jamie, Riley asked himself, “What would Jesus do?” and determined that Jesus would have walked on the water to get to Maggie. Whatever his thought process, in a split second Riley was making like Greg Louganis and dove into our pool.

Riley didn’t respond as Jesus would. And he’s no doggy version of Ian Thorpe either—maybe more like a doggy brick or a doggy anchor. Riley quickly found himself in the middle of the deep end of the pool (I think he got there on pure momentum from the swan dive), trying to dog paddle but not proving to be very successful in his efforts.

Karla, meanwhile fearful that we might have the first swimming pool casualty, was trying to say to anyone within listening distance to get the long handled, pool skimming tool to pull Riley out of the water, but she only managed to stutter, “Get…get….get… get…” All the while, Riley was swallowing more and more of our over-chlorinated pool water. Ben (my thirteen year old dog lover) had seen and heard enough. Ben can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound and he’s not faster than a speeding bullet, but in a move that would have made both Aqua-man and David Hasselhoff (the Baywatch dude) proud, Ben dove into the frigid water, grabbed Riley and saved the day! FYI-- no mouth to mouth was needed.

All the participants seemed to survive the ordeal. Riley was wet and cold, but did not seem any worse for the wear and it didn’t take him long to go regain his non-stop running, yapping, whirling dervish self. Ben, quite proud of his heroic efforts, is waiting for some kind of special commendation from PETA and has new friends in Riley and Heather. And the rest of us are happy that it was Ben that jumped in the cold waters, that Riley is OK, and that no one had to give a dog mouth to mouth resuscitation.

I tell you all of that because I know some people who are a lot like Riley. Not the A.D.H.D., whirling dervish part and not the non-stop yapping and running part—but finding themselves in deep water and not knowing how to get out part. It seems every week I talk to someone who is in over their head with problems, debt, trials, sickness, sin, you name it. Barely treading water, they don’t know what to do or where to turn.

Isaiah quotes God saying:
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God.” (Isaiah 43:1-3. New Living Translation)

It’s a great quote and some of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. Next time you find yourself in deep waters, know that God is with you. Do not be afraid. You are not alone. You don’t need “Super Ben” to rescue you—the Lord has said, “You are mine.” You can always count on Him to help you to overcome the deep waters, the burning flames, the troubling times!

A Detroit Sports Fan's Dream (almost)

One of the great sport nights in Detroit history was tonight. I had the remote working, and my lap top buzzing. At the same time... the Tigers were crushing the Twins at Comerica Park (19-3), the Red Wings were winning game one of the Stanley Cup Finals over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Joe Louis Arena (4-0), while the Pistons lost to the Celtics at the Palace of Auburn Hills in the third game of the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Pistons had won the only thing better would have been the return of Jesus.

A good quote

Do you like good quotes? Try this one on for size:

Vince Antonucci said this recently, "If you aren't close to someone who is far from God you may not be as close to God as you think."

How many non-Christ following friends do you have? Who are you trying to impact for Christ? Jesus hung out with sinners-- when was the last time you did?

Our Home on the Range and Encouraging Words

Do you know what the official state song of Kansas is? It’s Home on the Range. Since, I did not grow up in the Sunflower State, this was news to me. (I don’t know what the official state song of my home state (Michigan) is—given the fact the auto industry is having really bad times these days, it might be “Turn out the lights the party’s over.”) But in Kansas our song is Home on the Range. Good thing you are reading this little prose and not listening, because right now if you were sitting in the hallowed offices of Central Church you would hear a wretched noise emanating from my office. It’s far from David Cook and his American Idol fame and fashion, as I bellowed out for no one in particular to hear:

Home, home on the range.
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

I suppose my home is technically on the range, (Is Olathe on the range?), but I have yet to see a single deer or antelope play. A few bunnies and squirrels may be around, but there are definitely no deer or antelope in my neighborhood. On occasion, I have heard a few discouraging words (especially as it relates to gas prices) and the skies today are more than a little cloudy. In fact, it’s pouring down liquid sunshine as I type out these words.

I guess the song is a little inaccurate. There’s no deer and antelope; plenty of discouraging words; and the weather man says the skies will be cloudy all day. I can’t do anything about the non-playing and non-existent deer and the antelope. And controlling the weather is a little out of my pay grade too, but I can do something about “discouraging words.”

I remember seeing a Far Side cartoon years ago where a deer and antelope were discussing the ugliness of a certain buffalo to which another dear (or maybe it was an antelope) overheard them and said, “I think I just heard a discouraging word.”

If you listen in on many of the conversations at your work place and home and sometimes even church, like that eavesdropping antelope (or was it a deer?) you might also conclude: “I think I just heard a discouraging word.” It’s easy to fall prey to saying discouraging words. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to find something to complain about, but why? What good does it accomplish? Rather than being a person that finds and focuses on the negative, I want to be a user of encouraging words and attempt to be positive in all I say. Solomon once said:

The words of the godly are like sterling silver;
The heart of a fool is worthless.
The words of the godly encourage many,
But fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
(Proverbs 10:20-21)

Why not have encouraging and sterling silver words, whether your home is on the range or not? Who knows—maybe your use of positive encouraging words might even chase the grey clouds away and deer and the antelope might start playing again. Positive encouraging words make a big difference!

Hooray for the Red WIngs!

Who cares about the Tigers... the Red Wings are in the Stanley Cup Finals!

Biker Sunday Recap

Thanks to all who helped make our first annual Biker Day a good success! We had beautiful weather, wonderful music, great preaching (by Bob Humphrey), fantastic food, neat door prizes, fancy shirts, and alittle over 50 motorcycles and lots of volunteers to make sure everything went great! Besides have a doozy of a headache, it was a good, good day.

Biker Sunday

I am really looking forward to Biker Sunday this week. Lots of food and events are planned for the afternoon at Central. The Morning schedule will be the same as always: 8:30 and 11:00 Worship-- with Sunday School sandwiched in between. Biker Events start at 1 PM. Food, Music and a special message. Whether you are a Biker or not... join us this week!

Bird Brain

I am a “the root beer glass is half full” kind of guy. In fact, I’m a “the root beer glass is half full and I think I even see a scoop of ice cream in the cup” kind of guy. I usually see the most optimistic, most positive, most hopeful side to things. If Robert Schuler called for people to take the lemons they’ve been handed in life and make lemonade—then I would add, “And open a lemonade stand, make some cash and use a portion of the profits to sponsor a child in Zimbabwe.” I don’t have a cool name like Zig Zigler, but I’m generally a pretty positive guy.
Having said all of that, even the most “Johnny Blue Skies” among us might be getting a little nervous as the world events seem to be getting more and more uncertain. A quick look at the newspapers reminds us that:
· The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on.
· Is it just me, or does it seem like there has been more than our share of natural disasters lately? A cyclone in Myanmar, an earthquake in China, and tornadoes in the Midwest to name the tragedies from this week alone.
· Gas prices are high.
· The economy is low. (At the present rate, I think that by the time my economic stimulus check arrives, all I’ll be able to afford is one tank of gas and a Snickers Bar.)
· There are food crises in Haiti and Egypt. People can’t afford the most basic of staples like rice and bread.
· The Presidential politics and the obligatory mud slinging that follows will be a dominant theme for the next few months. Whether you are “O Baby” for Obama or McKooky for McCain—I think by November, most of us will be glad the campaign is over. (And if you are a “Silly for Hillary”… well… better luck next time).
· Even the weather has been pretty stinky this spring (although the last couple of days have been better).

So what is the Christ follower to do? I suppose we have several options and quite frankly all are for the birds…

The Ostrich Approach: Step One: Locate Sand. Step two: Stick head in it. Step Three: Stay there until 2024. Generally, ignoring problems is not the best way to overcome them and besides having all that sand in your hair is not recommended by Vidal Sassoon as proper hair care.

The Chicken Approach: Look at all the above facts and say, “I want out of this chicken coop! With all of this bad stuff going on, Jesus must be coming back tonight so I am emptying my bank account, giving away my flat screen TV to my sinner friends (‘cause I’ll be in heaven and I hear they have 200 inch Plasma TV’s in every mansion), and heading to the mountains to watch for Jesus’ return.” The problem with the Chicken Approach is that there have been those “chickens” that are more concerned about getting out of the coop than carrying about the other “chickens.” So they plan and strategize and act like Jesus’ return is coming before the evening news. But Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven…” (Matthew 24:36) Do you remember Peter’s instructions? He wrote: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) In other words, Jesus’ return keeps getting delayed because God so loves the world. Hey, I’m glad he has waited—because I know some folks that aren’t quite ready to meet Him. If it means a few more days in the coop for some of my friends to find Jesus, I can wait.

The Sparrow Approach: Look at all the above facts and say, “Wow… that’s a lot of bad stuff, but I know this… God is in control.” Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:26-27) So it doesn’t matter what is happening in the world; it doesn’t matter who is living in the White House; it doesn’t matter how high the price of ethanol rises; and it doesn’t matter who wins the World Series. Jesus is in control. He calls us to love Him and love people and let him worry about the rest.

The Eagle Approach: Looks at the above facts and like the sparrow says, “I’ve got no worries” in fact, I’m going to move beyond the circumstances of the day and soar. Isaiah said, “God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31. Italics mine). An eagle looks at the news and says “God has given me this excellent opportunity to make a difference. With Him, I can soar above the situation. With Him, I will have the strength. With Him, I can be victorious. With Him, there is not a situation that I can not overcome! God is bigger than wars and earthquakes and hunger and presidential politics. God is bigger than the temporary problems and my hope is in Him! Not only will I not worry, but I will be victorious!

So if you must be a bird brain and get your feathers in the ruffle over the events of the day, then pick the right bird to follow. As for me, I want to soar with the Eagles!

Tomato Canning Day and Moms

Tomato Canning Day at the Prince’s was like no other day. Besides the obvious of “putting up the maters” for the following year, Tomato Canning Day was easily the messiest day of the year.

On Tomato Canning Day my mom was immersed in making tomato juice, tomato sauce, and canning stewed tomatoes. For those of you unfamiliar with the necessary tools of Tomato
Canning Day allow me to explain: Mom used a “Juicer” for the project. A “Juicer” was a stainless steel contraption that had a hopper at the top that held the cut “maters and a handle on the side. There was no electricity needed for the Juicer. All the necessary power was in the arm of the person turning the handle. As the handle was cranked with one hand and the tomatoes were mashed into the machine with the other hand, the freshly squeezed “mater” juice would go one way and the yucky “tomato guts” would go another.

This all sounds nice and neat, but it was anything but nice and neat. Sometimes the juice would miss the bucket, and sometimes the goop would miss whatever the goop was suppose to go in to and sometimes a kid (read: Rob) would coming running in from outside and not see the bucket of juice or pan of goop and purely accidentally send one or both pans (and all of their contents) flying in all directions. In other words, “cleanliness is next to godliness” is a fine saying for most things, except for Tomato Canning Day. By the end of the day, everything was covered in tomatoes. My mom’s spic and span kitchen was splattered with tomato seeds, spilled juice, and tomato goop. It looked as if some overly zealous vegetable terrorist had let off a tomato bomb in our house. Tomato residue was everywhere. Even my usually neat and tidy mama by the end of the day looked more like Bob the Tomato than my dear sweet mama.

To make matters worse— Tomato Canning Day in Michigan always came at the end of August— when the tomatoes were good and ripe and the days were good and hot.

OK— you have the scene in your mind. It’s Tomato Canning Day. It’s hot. It’s messy. And my sweet conservative mother— who never, ever, ever, wore shorts (To be honest— I’m not sure if she has ever worn shorts since) was wearing the most hideous, most awful pair of shorts that had ever hung on a K-Mart clearance rack. She certainly did not intend to leave the house— it was Tomato Canning Day—and she was wearing shorts and covered from head to toe in tomato.
Moms, you know what’s going to happen-- don’t you?

Bam Bam. Bam. Someone was beating on our door like they were Muhammad Ali and the door was George Foreman. It was the neighbor’s kid informing my tomato-gooped mom that my brother had fallen off his bike and did a nose dive into the curb. The curb was fine, but my brother’s noggin was not so fine. (This incidentally explains a lot about my brother Fred to this very day!) Upon hearing that news, my mom took off down the street. She did not take the time to change from those awful, hideous, shorts. She did not take the time to remove the tomato goop from all over her. She heard her boy was in trouble and she took off running. She did not pass go. She did not collect 200 dollars. Her child was in trouble and she was off to be by his side.

That’s how it is when your child is in trouble. You don’t worry about what you are wearing or what you look like— you just go. A “whatever it takes” type of mentality takes over. “My kid is hurt, I must go! I will do whatever it takes to make it better. I’ll do what I have to do to make it right.” I suppose all good moms would have similar thoughts if in a similar situation. In fact, there’s a great story in the Bible when a mom does what it takes to get her daughter to Jesus. Read all about it in Mark 7. It’s a great story of a mom who would not quit before her daughter was helped by Jesus.

My mom ended up riding in the ambulance and sitting in the emergency room wearing her clearance rack shorts and tomato residue. Worrying little about her appearance and a lot for my brother, she waited patiently by his side as he was being examined, x-rayed, and spending the night in Annapolis Hospital. (In the end, Fred was fine—a curb is no match for my brother’s bean. My sister brought my mom a change of clothes, the tomato juice was eventually canned, the kitchen was cleaned up, and life went back to normal.) But I don’t think my mom ever wore those shorts again.I tell you that to remind us all that this week is Mother’s Day. Even if your mom never did a Bob the Tomato impersonation in a hospital emergency room, no doubt there are reasons to be thankful for her. So take time to say “Thanks.” Even if your mom was far less than perfect, take time to forgive. Don’t let Mother’s Day pass without thinking of and/or praying for the lady that brought you into the world and in most cases did so much more (sometimes while wearing hideous K-Mart clearance rack shorts.)

Summer Reading List?

As many of y'all know, I am a reader. For what it's worth, these are a few of the books that I've read in the last couple of months.

The ones I didn't like-- Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna.
God is a Salesman by Mark Stevens.

The ones I liked a little: The Shack by (I can't remember the author's name... oops)
The Appeal by John Grisham
The New Atheist Crusaders by Becky Garrison

The ones I really liked: Divine Nobodies by Jim Palmer
I became a Christian and All I got was this lousy T-shirt by Vince Antonucci
The Deity Formerly known as God by Jarrett Stevens

With Summer around the corner, I would recommend any of the last three books for sure-- and lots of people I know loved The Shack, I just wasn't as crazy about it as others.

My current reading list includes:
The God who Smokes by Timothy Stoner
I'm fine with God, It's Christians I can't stand by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
The Multi-Site Church Revolution by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon and Warren Bird

What are you copying?

A “pleasant” conversation at the Prince house:

Ben: I am the greatest baseball player in the world.
Alex: I am the greatest baseball player in the world.
Ben: Are you copying me?
Alex: Are you copying me?
Ben: Stop it.
Alex: Stop it.
Ben: Stop copying me.
Alex: Stop copying me.
Ben: I am a big, fat dummy!
Alex: Ben is a big fat dummy!
Ben: Daaaaaaaaad!

UGH! The joys of parenthood! I am sure that your cherubs would never taunt and tease one another. It’s only a pastor’s kid thing, no doubt. And pigs fly and the Royals will win the pennant and….

Even more annoying than the copying game between brothers is the copying of our dominant culture that takes place all too often.

This week I am preaching from Paul’s words, “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2) Is there a more relevant, needed, and timely passage in the entire Bible for believers than that one? It’s not the people who completely ignore Paul’s words that worry me, but rather it is we followers of Jesus who read Paul, like Paul, and after perusing such a passage promptly offer a hardy “Preach it, Paul!” Then nearly as prompt do our very best to copy the world.

I know, I am sounding old fashion. Trust me I am not sitting on my davenport, working on my Commodore 64, waiting for a telegram from my grandmother as I write this article. And I am not suggesting that we dress and act like the Amish to prove a point. (I’ve grown rather fond of electricity.). But I am suggesting that maybe, just maybe, we need to rethink how we approach our sex-crazed, materialistic, “anything is OK just as long as you are happy” culture and say, “Hmmm, maybe God has something better.” Maybe, just maybe, we need to have a God powered, transformation—in our brains and in our culture. Maybe, just maybe, we need to reexamine our priorities and attitudes and ask, “Am I a cultural copy cat?” Do my attitudes and behaviors reflect Christ or reflect what some Madison Avenue marketing guru says is important and necessary for my life? Do I mirror Jesus or Abercrombie and Fitch?

I read a quote from Billy Graham this week, he said: “Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.” It probably wouldn’t take the good reverend that long. In the next few weeks, we tax paying Americans will be getting our economic stimulus checks; how you spend it will tell a lot about what priorities you have. I am not a tele-evangelist or the son of a tele-evangelist and I am not suggesting you send all your money to Central, but I am suggesting that you think (and pray!) before you spend. Are you going to simply copy culture or will you allow Christ to transform you and your spending?

The same can be said about what we watch on TV, what websites we visit, and how we spend our entertainment hours. Are we allowing God to transform our minds into his “good and pleasing and perfect will” or are we going along with what our culture says is good and pleasing? Because as far as I can tell, what God says is pleasing and what our world says is pleasing at times are very far apart.

When my boys play the copying game it’s irritating and childish. When we copy the world and its false dreams and hopes, it’s even worse.

Sunday is coming...

Sunday will be AWESOME! Can't wait to proclaim the good news that Jesus can change anyone's life! Join us this Sunday Morning at the Central Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas!

Back from Retreat

I Just got back from the Pastoral Team Retreat from the Kansas City District. It was a good time. A friend of mine was the speaker-- and he did great. Only problem was that I forgot my lap top computer-- so no e-mail, blogging, etc. this week. Hmmm... maybe that was a good thing.

Weekend Highlights and Lowlights

It's been a goofy weekend-- but one where I have seen God work.

Highlights--

• Audrey and Brian's wedding-- beautiful, fun, awesome. Lesson: Weddings for neat couples are always fun. And they had good hors d'oeuvres at the reception too!
• Great worship and praise in all three services. Lesson: We have talented, godly people at Central!
• Red Wings win. Red Wings Win. Lesson: I miss Hockeytown this time of year.

Lowlights--

• Spending time in the hospital during a friend's health crisis (spending time with friends was not a the lowlight... seeing our friend's struggle with the issues of life wasn't great... but even in that-- God was a work and I am convinced that in the end, God will receive the Glory!!!) Lesson: God is always in control!
• Rain and Cold at Nazarene Night at Worlds of Fun. Lesson: If its cold and raining and you wear long undies to World's of Fun-- you will still get cold and wet.
• Thinking Ben had baseball practice-- but he didn't. Lesson: Don't sweat the things you can't control.
• Tigers losing two out three, and the Pistons losing its opening game to the 76ers. Lesson: I miss Hockeytown this time of year.

This Week I...

What did you do this week? This week, I did several things.

This week, I …. Preached three times. I don’t always like the way a sermon turns out or the way I preached on a certain passage of Scripture. Occasionally I leave church thinking, “Wow, I should have done so much better.” But I like that God can take what is said, even when it is far less than perfect, and use it for his glory anyway. (Karla pointed out that last Sunday I said: “The fact of the matter is” three times during the course of the sermon. Hmmm? I told her, “Well, the fact of the matter is I wasn’t counting!” She said, “I was.”) In spite of using too many clichés, on Sunday lots (I mean LOTS) of people raised their hands or came to the altar indicating a need for God to work in some area of their life. Praise the Lord for his working!

This week, I …. Ate dinner with friends. I don’t like eating alone, but I love eating, talking, joking around a dinner table. Breaking bread (or in my case, a calzone at Old Chicago! Yum!) with friends is a good thing.

This week, I …. Paid my taxes. I don’t like paying taxes. Writing a check to Uncle Sam is one of my least favorite activities. But I like having clean water and safe streets and a stable government and all the things paying my taxes provides. And this summer good ol’ Uncle Sam will be sending out checks to us, so I guess that’s good too.

This week, I …. Attended the District Credential’s Board Meeting. I don’t like going to the Credential’s Board Meeting and taking a whole day out of my schedule to meet with ministers-in-training. But I like that we have a system that monitors and oversees the education and development of our soon-to-be ministers.

This week, I …. Received about a gazillion e-mails about Oprah and her new agey blah, blah, blah. (Okay maybe I haven’t received a gazillion, but I’ve gotten a lot.) I don’t like New Age blah, blah, blah whether it comes from Oprah or Oh My Goodness anybody else. But I like that people have recognized the blah, blah, blah for what it is.

This week, I …. Talked to a friend who is about to face a major health crisis. I don’t like that we live in a world where there is sin, sickness and tough things happen in life, but I like that we serve the One that said: “Take Heart, I have overcome the world!”

This week, I …. Led our Board Meeting. I don’t always like Board Meetings. There’s a reason I might occasionally (on purpose?) misspell it as “bored meeting.” But this week, we talked a lot about reaching our community and what we are doing and how we can do it better. It was a very good discussion among our leaders. We have a good church board.

This week, I … participated in our pastoral staff book review. Pastor Padraic picked the book this time: The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the missional church by Alan Hirsch. It got us a ll talking and thinking about how we are doing ministry. I liked that. We have a great pastoral staff at Central… I like that too.

This week, I …. Recommended a former Centralite, former seminarian to a District Superintendant. I don’t like those conversations if I really don’t think the candidate is qualified, but I really like it when I know they will do a great job and build the Kingdom. This guy is the latter. He’s going to make a huge difference for God!

This week, I …. Worked on my lawn mower. I changed the oil and the blade. It’s ready to go. I don’t like mowing much. But I like that it’s getting warmer and the snow is gone and finally oh so finally maybe spring is here.

This week, I …. Hung out in a couple of hospitals. Going to hospitals isn’t always fun, staying in one is even worse. But I like knowing that the Great Physician is always on call. And we really can call out to God and God really does hear and answers prayers.

This week, I …. Shopped at my neighbor’s semi-annual Gear Garage Sale. I normally don’t like garage sales, but I like this one. New Shirts (with a teeny rip in the back) for a buck. Yippee! There were so many other Centralites there—I thought maybe we should take an offering and consider my neighbor’s garage and off-site venue for another worship service.

This week, I …. Waited for our out-of-town company to arrive at our house. I don’t like that the Queen of Clean (read: Karla) is turning my day off into a mowing, cleaning, scrubbing, doing a million “honey-do” jobs because “Rob we need everything perfect for our guests.” But I do like friends coming to visit.

This week, I … Spent some good time with the Lord, but I wish there had been more time. I don’t like it when I don’t make time or take the time for God, and I completely understand what good ol’ William Wilberforce was getting at when he said, “I must secure more time for private devotions. I have been living far too public for me. The shortening of devotions starves the soul, it grows lean and faint. I have been keeping too late hours.”

This week, I … Wrote an e-mail to the church and I didn’t know what to write, so I wrote about some of my likes and dislikes of what happened during the week. I hope that was OK.

Central Students

I have a couple of humans living in my house that are different from me. They don’t have a third eye ball or an extra limb growing from their shoulder. It’s worse. They were born sixteen and thirteen years ago respectively-- which clearly means they are (hold on to your hat): Teenagers.
Teenagers are definitely different from me. In their pre-teenager days, my boys used to think that I was the cat’s meow, now they think I am old mainly because I use clichés like… the cat’s meow. They used to wear the clothes I chose for them (Ben was so cute in his little giraffe sweater), and they got their hair cut when I said it was time to head to the barber (Alex was so cute in his “bowl” cut). Today, they would rather be trampled by a herd of giraffe than wear a sweater with a crocheted giraffe on the front and “bowl haircuts” are not among the approved styles at Great Clips. We don’t like the same music (My music taste is refined and dignified; their music is too loud, too unintelligible, and just plain too noisy. Hmmm that’s what my mom said about my music back in the day… weird!). We don’t like the same TV shows. We don’t visit the same websites. In some ways we speak in different languages. For instance, if I say the shoes I am trying on at Wal-Mart are “tight” that means I need to try on another, slightly bigger pair of shoes. If Alex says the shoes in the window of Foot Locker are “tight,” that means they are a very fine pair of shoes and well worth the $125 price tag. If Ben and I are talking about “gauges” I am more than likely referring to the oil level indicator or RPM recorder on my car’s dashboard, while Ben is probably speaking of someone’s ears. We have different tastes and different styles and use different words in conversation.

Having said all that… I am still glad these boys are my sons. I’m proud of them. I love them more than you will ever know.

I’ve been around some other teens lately. On Monday, I had a basement full of the creatures known as Teenager. They were hanging out and cheering for the Jayhawks. It was a fun night as they allowed this old guy to join them for the Rock Chalk Jayhawk victory. All were polite. All ate lots of chips and salsa. All were having fun and yelling loud (especially when “Super Mario” sank that three pointer at the end of regulation), and when the last student left I thought, “We have some good teens at Central.”

On Sunday Night, I was in the Student Center as our teens led in the worship. We had students leading the worship songs, students playing the instruments, students praying, students reading scripture, students receiving the offering, and students singing specials (By the way, the song the Jessica Gibbons sang on Sunday night, she wrote! Wow! What a talented young lady.). When the service was all said and done, I thought, “We have some good teens at Central.”

A couple of weeks ago, I was in El Salvador with 20 of our students. Here’s what I observed: the students worked hard, rarely complained, displayed good attitudes, reached out to the people we were ministering with, and in all ways showed the love of Christ. When we returned I thought, “We have some good teens at Central.”

I’m encouraged! I don’t know if you’ve heard but “we have some good teens at Central!” These students are not “the church of tomorrow,” they are the church of today! They are talented, gifted, and already doing ministry.

If you are my age or older it’s easy to read about the “troubled youth in America” or watch a news story about some messed up kids and conclude that all students are the same. Not true. There are plenty of God-loving, God-pleasing, God-serving youth. You’ll see them sitting in the first few rows in church on Sunday, and for some of us they are sleeping in the bedroom down the hall.

Are our teens perfect? Nope (but, ahem… look in the mirror and that guy or gal staring back at you isn’t perfect either). Is it easy to be a teenager these days? Nope again. (Have you been in a middle school or high school lately?) Those two facts should cause us to pray for our students, and encourage them, and love them and when you have the opportunity hang out with them—you just might learn something. And while you’re at it—how about praying for Youth Pastor Cory and all our youth sponsors who are investing their lives in our students?! And if you do, the teens and I would agree that getting more people praying, loving, encouraging and standing with them in the situations of life would be very “Tight.” (And as we’ve already learned…that would be a very good thing!)

Go Team Go?

I'm a sports fan. And I really get it that people are excited about KU winning a championship and the Royal's doing so well and the Wizards... (Does anyone care about soccer? I didn't think so.) But you get the idea, KC is rocking: "Yea our teams are doing great!"

We talk about it with our friends. We talk to strangers about it. It's great news: "Yea! Our teams are doing great." We are passionate about our teams.

Are we equally passionate about our Lord? I am amazed at people who say: "I could never talk to strangers about my faith, that's just not my "gift" but these same folks seem to have no problem talking to strangers about KU. Just where are our priorities?

This is in no way a sports bashing blog... you know I love my sports, but c'mon our commitment to Christ and his calling us to make "more and better disciples" trumps anything that happens on a field or court.

This weekend at Central

What I liked about Sunday at Central...
1) I liked the video in the changed series... thanks Danial Hawkins for producing it and thanks to Jim Gorman for starring in it. (Hopefully we will get these on the Web site soon).
2) I liked the children's skit in both services... not only did they do a good job-- but it really fit in with the sermon. Super!
3) I like the Favorite Teacher Brunch... we had several "Favorite Teachers" here-- making this annual event a big success!
4) I like the Youth led service in the PM. We have some talented teens!
5) I liked seeing the success of our Junior Quizzing program in the PM too--- we have some smart kids!

What I didn't like about Sunday at Central...
Several individuals left a broom by my office-- I think in reference to the Royal's sweeping wins against my beloved Tigers. Wow... kick a guy when he's down!

Boo Hoo

The Royals beat the Tigers 5-4. Sniff. Sniff.
Oh well, one down and 161 to go!

Go Tigers!

More Family Pictures from El Salvador

Good Friday in El Salvador

Good Friday in El Salvador is not like Good Friday in the States. Here in America, it seems that many people are oblivious to the day of Good Friday. Stores are open. Mail is delivered. Many churches have services, and a few people even show up. But for the non-religious, Good Friday is a lot like Flag Day. Where the response might be, “Huh… it’s Good Friday? Oh. OK. Zzzzzzz.” The implication is that it’s OK if you want to remember Good Friday, but most folks will go about their day without much notice or concern or care that it’s Good Friday.

Not so in El Salvador. There is no mistaking it’s Good Friday there. Shops, schools, and government offices are all shut down. And many of the streets are transformed into an art gallery of sorts. Individuals and groups make beautiful “rugs” out of sawdust (don’t think of these creations as a bathroom throw rug but rather they are more like giant colorful murals where the street pavement becomes the canvas) on which later in the day processionals of people will walk or even crawl over them as an act of penitence for their sins of the past year. As people are working on their murals and others are watching, street vendors and people are milling around and enjoying the festivities of the day. Since we left before Easter, I have no way of knowing, but I was told that the emphasis on Good Friday is way bigger than it is for Easter.

For everybody in the country, religious and non religious alike, knows that it is Good Friday.
Here most people know it is Easter. They may not remember Good Friday, but they know it’s Easter Sunday. Prior to Easter, every retail store had huge displays of candy and bunnies and spring time colors. Churches sent out invitations and placed banners in their lawn. On the day itself, at least some stores are shut down. (Since we had been gone the previous nine days, there was no milk in our house. On Easter afternoon, I made a quick run to Price Chopper for milk and discovered that the store was closed. Good for Price Chopper. Bad for my Cocoa Krispies.) Since it’s a Sunday there is no mail delivery, no school and no government offices open. And even the TV networks might show religious movie classics like Ben Hur or The Ten Commandments or have some religious type programming. One way or another, most folks even if not religious know that it is Easter.

So here’s my question: Which is worse: To make a big deal that it’s Good Friday but forget about Easter, or make a big deal that it’s Easter but on Monday go on as if Easter never occurred?

We are a few days past Easter now. The candy is probably gone. The Easter baskets put away for another year. And besides a few strands of that fake plastic grass hanging around on the living room carpet, most outward signs of Easter are gone. School and jobs and life have gotten back to normal. So my real concern is: Is the wonder of Easter still in your heart? Have you packed the Easter Joy away with the baskets, bonnets and Easter bunny knick knacks? Or is the power of the Resurrection still making an impact on your life? Are you still rejoicing that we “serve a Risen Savior who’s in the world today”? Isn’t that what matters?

Long after the last Peep is eaten and the last jelly bean is gone—I hope that the power of the Resurrection is still making a life altering impact in you.

Back Home

Home Sweet home. Or should I write... church sweet church. Maybe both. It is good to be home. Good to be at Central for Easter Services. Good to see so many people praising the Lord. I snuck into the Spanish Service this morning-- that was good too.

Here was a switch... my luggage made it home with me!

I loved El Salvador... loved all that we were able to accomplish. But it is good to be home!

I am missing Holy Week at Central

I am going to miss our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services. Tonight we will be back at the Santa Techla church for a good-by service with our brothers and sisters from here. Tomorrow we will expereince Good Friday Central American Style. I think it will be a very interesting day.

See you Easter Sunday!

From El Salvador with Love

I am writing from beautiful, sunny, warm, El Salvador. As we have traveled from the El Alamo International Hotel (to call our accommodations a “resort” would be a stretch… think of it not as a Motel Six, it is more like a Motel One and a half), I have seen the following reminders of home: a McDonald’s, Burger King, Little Caesars, lots of Pizza Huts, Subway, Mister Donut, KFC, Wendy’s and Bennigan’s. In other words, you could get high cholesterol just as quick in Central America as you can in the Center of America. Fast food joints notwithstanding, there are plenty of differences between El Salvador and Lenexa Kansas. Dorothy was right; we are not in Kansas anymore.

Still, this past week the 52 folks from Central have involved ourselves in construction, VBS kid’s clubs, painting a school, visiting an AIDS orphanage, holding medical clinics and showing the Jesus film. We usually leave the hotel by 8:30 AM and don’t return until 8:30 PM. They’ve been long, fun, tiring, exciting days.

On Sunday night, before any of our “real” work began, we had a time together with the whole team and I challenged the group. I told the team that we could come down here and buy a few trinkets in a souvenir shop like any other tourist, take a few pictures of palm trees and smiling children and go home unchanged. Or we could allow God to move us. Change us. Transform us.

I think he has been doing that.

Today, I spent the morning on the construction site and then went up an active volcano to the sight of our VBS and Medical clinic. I hadn’t been out of the van for a minute when my son Ben—who had been at the site all morning-- came running up to me. It was obvious he was excited.
“Dad, dad… guess what happened this morning?”
“I don’t know, Ben what happened?”
Usually when Ben displays this kind of excitement something goofy has happened like a bird dropping its, well droppings on his mother (that hadn’t happened…. yet. A little later in the day, a bird with the precision of a Patriot Missile would zoom in on my dear sweet wife’s head. An event, by the way, that would cause a couple of El Salvador boys to laugh hysterically for a long, long time.)

Ben proceeded to tell me that while he was out that morning inviting children to the VBS, he had an opportunity to present the “evangicube” to a man and lead him to Christ. I know the Bible says that all of heaven rejoices when one lost sheep comes home. But, I have to tell you if heaven was half as excited as Ben then they had quite a party over Javier coming to know Jesus! I hope it’s the first of many such opportunities in his life.

It’s been a great week… we have just a couple more days and then we’ll be heading for home.

From El Salvador

I am writing from El Salvador-- where God has already been at work! If you haven't yet-- check out the church website: http://www.kccentral.org/ and then click on the El Salvador Blog Button. Different people from team are writing each day. And there are pictures too! All in all--it has been pretty cool!

Yesterday, was our first work day. Construction, VBS, a Medical Clinic (that saw I think 108 patients), and a showing of the Jesus film. We left at 8 AM and got back around 8:30 PM it was a long, wonderful day!

Today, I stayed behind to work on my Easter Message-- I'll see you on Sunday.

Happy Anniversary

Twenty Years ago today the most beautiful woman in the world walk down the aisle of the Westland Church of the Nazarene and said that she would love me always... for better or worse. Karla has kept her promise for these twenty years, and I have kept mine to her. I love her more today than ever!

It's been a wonderful ride... and now we will head off to El Salvador with our boys and fifty of our closest friends.

EL Salvador Blog

Hey the Mission Team to El Salvador has a Blog! Click on our Website: www.kccentral.org and then click the El Salvador Blog

A Praying Church Board!

Last night's Church Board Meeting... was my kind of meeting. After getting some of the necessities out of the way (treasurer's report, reviewing the past meetings minutes, etc.), we got down to the most important work of the church: prayer! We prayed.

The board and pastors broke into five separate groups and covered all the areas of the church. We were in the powerhouse, the student center, the worship wing and the adult fellowship area. We were in the church offices, nurseries, food pantry, library and fellowship hall. And finally we all gathered in the Sanctuary.

Every pew was prayed over, every person that will be sitting in those pews in the next couple of weeks was prayed for too.

If God is going to work at Central it will only happen as we all pray! Your Church Board is leading the way!

Busy, busy, busy

What a busy weekend at Central. All five services (2 English services on Sunday morning, one at night, a Spanish service on Sunday morning and an Arabic service on Saturday night) were great! Wow the Lord was with us!!!

We also had a Game Night gathering on Friday Night-- lots of fellowship happening. That's always a good thing. An Executive Committee meeting on Saturday Morning-- we have such a great leadership team. We had a meeting to explore revamping our Men's Ministries on Sunday afternoon--(25 men and Pastor Molly were there.... what a great group!), a meeting to get our Mission team ready for the VBS's that we'll be running in El Salvador, and a gathering to pack bags for El Salvador.

God is doing great things at Central!

Two and a Half Weeks

A good vacation lasts about two and a half weeks.

I wish a tank of gas lasted for two and a half weeks.

Half a month is just shy of two and a half weeks.

Seventeen days is two and a half weeks.

If you walked 25 miles a day, in two and a half weeks you’d be in Chicago.

To get over a cold takes about two and a half weeks.

Usually the World Series takes about two and a half weeks to complete. (Sorry Royals fans this is the Tigers year to experience those two and a half fun filled weeks!!!)

To get a letter via “snail mail” from Lenexa, Kansas to missionary Rod Green in Amman, Jordan would take two and a half weeks.

To paint my house might take two and a half weeks. (It would take me a week and half to paint it, and it would take a week for a real painter to repaint it right.)

Darrel and June and Hannah equal two and a half Weeks. (Actually that’s three Weeks-- the whole family equals six Weeks! For you non-Centralites, the Weeks family is one of Central’s finest. June is our church librarian and does a great job. Have you checked out the library lately?)

The difference between a good haircut and a bad one is about two and a half weeks.

I wonder if the Jayhawks will still be playing in two and a half weeks. (Anyone remember Bucknell?)

In a dog’s life, two and a half weeks is like seventeen and a half people weeks. Woof. Woof.

For me to run a marathon, it would take two and a half weeks (and two and a half gallons of Ben Gay).

Two and one half weeks. In just two and a half weeks, God could completely and totally transform our world.

Look at what is happening in the next two and a half weeks…

• 52 Centralites will be in El Salvador by the end of next week. 52 people constructing buildings, leading VBS’s, organizing dental clinics, participating in medical clinics, painting and cleaning and worshipping and evangelizing and praying. 52 people trying to do as Jesus commanded to “go into all the world….”
• Our Spanish Service will have it’s official launch on Easter (although it actually began “unofficially” last Sunday)
• A meeting to refocus and retool and revitalize our Men’s Ministry is this Sunday at 5 PM. all men interested in being a part of this are welcome to attend!
• Our Arabic Service continues after it also had a good start last weekend.
• Holy Week Services are one of the highlights of the year. I am excited about the Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services that are being planned. Each will be different. Each will be meaningful!
• Easter Sunday Services will be AWESOME! Have you invited someone yet? I heard of a survey that said 82% of unchurched people say they will come to church if a person they know invites them. 82%! That means your neighbors and co-workers and fellow students will more than likely attend an Easter service if you simply take the time and care enough to invite them. Will you invite them?

Just imagine—dream a little—think and pray how God can use all of these events for his glory and you’ll begin to feel the excitement that I do about the next two and a half weeks!

So Central Nazarene, please know it is vital, imperative, necessary, crucial, yes absolutely essential that all people who love the Lord and love Central are praying. The next couple of weeks could be the most important weeks in someone’s life… so pray! Pray like you’ve never prayed before. Pray that God will work. Pray that lives will be changed. Pray that God will give you the courage to invite a friend or neighbor to Easter Services. Pray that these next two and a half weeks will be some of the best weeks our church has ever experienced!

A Historic Weekend at Central

What a weekend at Central. Historic! We had five services... count them five. All were terrific!

On Saturday Night we had our first Arabic service. 17 people gathered. We ate (some ethnic food, some pizza), we sang and praised the Lord, prayed and heard a wonderful sermon. It was awesome!

Sunday Morning, we had our regular two morning services. God was with us as we continued in our Lent Sermon Series, "Stories from the Upper Room." Again everything was good!

At 11:00 in the student center was our first Spanish Service. Pastor Jaime preached their was good music and praise. Over thirty people were worshipping. This is a service that we had been planning and praying about for about eight months and the day finally came! Praise the Lord.

And service #5, was our Sunday @ Six Service. It was a wonderful night of praise and testimony and digging into God's word!

What a great weekend!

Snow on Sunday... what a surprise!

Of course, it was Sunday and there was snow. It happens every weekend. Still we had a great day at Central. Both morning and night services were good, good, good. God was with us!

We had a good chili cook-off too. I think I heard that Pastor Molly's was the "Most Unique Chili" and Alice Smith's was the "Most Like Mama's."

It was great to pray with the people who will be participating in the Spanish Service. We are expecting great things as this service begins this Sunday at 11 AM in the Student Center.

No Soup for you!

I love Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup. Even the name sounds fun, doesn’t it? It’s “Fiesta” Chili Beef soup. How many other soups have a celebration right in their name? You don’t eat “Yippee Yahoo” Beef Barley or “Zippity Doo Dah” Chicken Noodle. But with Campbell’s Condensed Chili Beef there’s a fiesta in every can!

I have always loved Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup. I think my mother put Fiesta Chili Beef Soup in my bottle as an infant. Sometimes, my dear sweet mother would place a Ball Park Frank or two into the soup and thereby creating an all-in-one yummy meal. Hot dogs and chili, what a treat! I remember making this soup in a “hot pot” in my dorm room while in college, even though there were rules about cooking in our rooms. I thought Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup was worth being labeled a rebellious, rule breaker, and worth any fine the Resident Assistants might levy on me if they discovered me and my “hot-pot.” (Typically if a college student is fined for having “hot pot,” it does not involve a cooking apparatus, as it did for me). Even after getting married, when Karla would go away for the weekend, she knew that the pantry could be without fruits and vegetables, but it absolutely needed to include at least one can of Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup. Yes, I love that soup.

Or I should have written: I “loved” it. After weeks of not seeing it on the super market shelves, I was coming to the realization that something was seriously wrong. Week after week, I would run into the grocery store hoping, praying that Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup would be on the shelf, and weekly I was disappointed as I discovered that (to quote the “Soup Nazi” from the old Seinfeld show) there was “No soup for me.” It was not at HyVee, Dillions, Price Chopper, Wal-Mart or Hen House. It was not in any store.

What happened to my beloved Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup? Were the Campbell’s Soup Chefs on strike? Was there a drought in some third-world country making it impossible to produce beans or beef or some other vital ingredient in my Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup? I had to know: Where’s my soup? So this week I wrote to the Campbell’s Soup Company. I politely asked them where my soup was. I told them I had been eating it for years and years (I did not tell them about my mama putting it into my baby bottle.). I reminded them I had been a loyal customer. I told them how I could not find my tasty soup in any store throughout the Kansas City metro area.

Here was their reply:

Mr. Rob Prince, we received your message and appreciate your taking the time to contact Campbell Soup Company to inquire about our Campbell's Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup. Unfortunately, this product is not currently available.
Tastes and preferences constantly change and there is only so much space on a supermarket shelf. Periodically, we look at the sales for our various products and are forced to make the difficult decision as to which products stay and which must be replaced.
Inquiries such as yours remind us that sales figures aren't the only measure of a product's value. Perhaps one day Campbell's Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup will make its way back to your grocer's shelf.

Nooooooooo! This was the worst possible news!

“Not currently available…?”
“Forced to make difficult decisions…?”
“Periodically, we look at the sales….?”

Ah ha! Corporate greed has taken away my dearly loved Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef! First the M & M Candy Company stopped making Red M & M’s and now this! Oh sure there may be more Chicken Noodle Lovers and Tomato Soup lovers, but do the powers-that-be in the hallowed kitchens of Campbell’s Soup really expect me to believe that there are more people that like Split Pea Soup or Cream of Asparagus Soup than Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup? “Only so much space on a supermarket shelf?” Are you kidding me? The grocers seem to have space for lima beans and pig’s feet and other gross things, surely the good folks at Price Chopper can make room for my tasty Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup! (And don’t even get me started on how super markets seem to have plenty of space for Pabst Blue Ribbon and Budweiser).

What is a hungry pastor to do?

Just before my mind started devising schemes and insane plots to kidnap those lil’ “Mmmm Mmmm Good” Campbell’s Soup twins (I’m telling you I was desperate), the Lord reminded me of Jesus’ words: 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' (Matthew 4:4) I know Jesus doesn’t mention Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup by name in that verse (I think it would have been very confusing—and may have made the people in the first century a little jealous—to hear about such a tasty soup that wouldn’t be created for 1900 years) but the same principle applies: “Get your mind off your tummy and onto the things of God.”

You know that’s not a bad lesson. In fact, that’s the point of this Lenten season. That’s why we fast or give up something like burgers or chocolate or TV as we approach Holy Week. It’s to get our mind off of the things of this world, and on to the things of God. There’s still time to do just that. As we make our way toward Holy Week and Easter, make time to think about the things of God. Seek him. Seek His direction for your future, your family and all your ways. And of this you can be sure: Finding God’s favor is even better than finding a can of Campbell’s Condensed Fiesta Chili Beef Soup on a supermarket shelf. David was absolutely right when he wrote: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) How true it is!

Snow, Snow Go Away!

Why does it always snow on Sundays? More than a few strong and hardy people made it to Central yesterday-- and the Lord was with us as we continued in our Stories from the Upper Room Series. If you were afraid of the slippery roads and stayed home, check out our website and listen in to the sermon on our Advocate from John 14:15-31.

The Feaste of St. Valentine

Tonight begins the first of three performances of the Feaste of St. Valentine. It will be a great night, I am sure. The cast and crew have put in many hours of work to make this a success. I'm looking forward to it!

Numbers Numbers Numbers

Numbers, numbers, numbers. Here are some numbers that I’ve seen this week.

68,095 dollars. That was what my little “fun-filled vacation” in St. Luke’s Hospital cost. Of course, that does not include the emergency room at Shawnee Mission Medical Center (I think that bill was around seven grand), doctors, technicians, and I don’t know what all. Wow! For you non-math whizzes that figures to nearly 10,000 beans a day—and I thought a day at Disney World was pricy.

67,595 dollars. That’s how much our insurance paid. Whew… I am glad for health insurance. While 500 dollars out of our pocket (so far) is nothing to sneeze at (or blow a head gasket over); it’s a whole lot better than 68,000 smackeroos!

276 years ago (next Friday) the most famous person in my family tree was born: George Washington. The rumor is that somewhere on my mama’s side of the family we are related to old George Washington’s mama, Mary Ball Washington. Who knows if it’s true or how we are related? It’s President’s Day Weekend, so I thought you might be a little impressed.

13 years ago (on Saturday) my little Ben was born. I know for a fact that I’m related to him (and his mama). The only thing that Ben has in common with George Washington is their wooden teeth (that’s not true) and their ability to chop down a cherry tree (that could be true).

52 people will be leaving one month from tomorrow for a mission trip in El Salvador. Besides working on a church building we will be holding dental clinics in some public schools, leading VBS like gatherings, and participating in some Jesus film showings. I hope you are praying for this trip and the people who are going. Be looking in the worship folder for supplies that we will need to take with us that you can help provide.

4 ties I have yet to wear for missions. I finished wearing my Royal’s tie on Sunday (if you were counting, I wore that lil’ beauty four weeks in a row), and now have a KU, K-State, Ohio State, and my own tastefully eloquent Michigan tie to wear. For those who may be unaware, people paid 200 bucks for me to wear those ties (compared to staying in a hospital, that’s a bargain). The 200 hundred dollars helps pay for the building supplies for our mission trip. And yes, you read that right; I paid 200 of my own cold hard cash for the privilege of wearing my own tie.

24 hours (actually less than that) until Valentine’s Day. Please use this as a reminder. You may recall that last year I waited too long and ended up purchasing two dead Wal-mart tulip plants for my wife, Karla. Bad idea. I’ve planned better this year, and I hope you will do the same. Because when those potted plants hit you on top of the head… it hurts! (Just kidding, my wife has never hit me with a potted plant. Maybe she has wanted to—but her self-control has heretofore always won out, thankfully!)

24 hours (actually less than that) until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. Can summer be far behind? I haven’t been this excited for a Spring Training since 1985 (the year after the Tigers won the World Series.) Unfortunately, that year didn’t work out so well for my Tigers, instead a team with guys named Balboni, Biancalana, Iorg, Quirk, and Quisenberry won the series—anybody ever hear of those guys? (Can you believe that I used the word “heretofore” in the last paragraph? What was I thinking?)

38 days until Easter. Are you praying for a neighbor, co-worker, friend, or family member that you can invite to Easter Services? Quite possibly, heretofore (I’m using that word so much you’d think I was a lawyer), your friends and loved ones have not expressed interest in things spiritual, but through prayer (maybe even fasting), God can soften their hearts. Everyone you know should celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus!

That’s all the numbers I know. So, I will “86” this email, and as Smokey (or was it Bandit?) used to say, “10-4, Good Buddy!”

Ties for Missions

Yesterday was my last day wearing a Royal's tie. If you haven't noticed, I've worn the same tie the last four weeks because people paid $200 each week for our mission trip supplies. I still have to wear a KU tie, K-State tie, and awful of all awfulness an Ohio State Buckeye tie. I even paid $200 mself to wear my own University of Michigan tie.

I suppose it's not too late-- if you have a special tie and are willing to give $200 for missions I am willing to wear it (maybe... nothing too crazy or my wardrobe warden -- that is, Karla, might rejected it.)

Another Good Day at Central

Yesterday was a good day! Many folks were helped in discovering that in the midst of their "no way situations" God will make a way. I think I am going to like this Lenten series of Stories from the Upper Room. This week we will be looking at the end of John 14, and the exciting announcement from Jesus about "another Counselor."

Ash Wednesday Recap

The Ash Wednesday Service last night was a really good service. Some of our folks had never been a part of such a service, and I think it was extremely meaningful.

Have you decided on something to fast during the 40 days of Lent? If giving up chocolate or soda is not your thing... how about fasting sports or TV or fasting from complaining or anger or spending too much money. Use these days to come up with a way to focus on what it means to follow Christ and follow his example of being a servant.

A Sweet Week

The old song says, “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before….” I won’t dispute the lyrics, but I must admit that this week has had some goofy twists and turns in that ever growing sweetness.

Sunday was the Super Bowl. I didn’t have a horse in the race, so I really didn’t care if the Giants or the Patriots won the game. (When you root, root, root for the Detroit Lions, you come to the conclusion that even if all the other horses die of the plague and yours in the only horse in the race, somehow your old grey mare will still find a way to mess it up.) I enjoyed the commercials, the half time show, and most of all, the snacks at the party I attended. Who cares about football? Pass the Crunch-N-Munch.

On Monday, I attended my first basketball game in Phog Allen Field House on the campus of the University of Kansas. (Well, the first since my being the pastor at Central. I attended one game in 1988 when the Jayhawks had a kid name Danny Manning playing for them. I wonder what ever happened to that team.) The Jayhawks squeaked out a victory over the Missouri Tigers (they won by 19 points), and I heard more Rock, Chalk Jayhawk chants in more ways than I thought possible. There were fast “Rock Chalks,” slow “Rock Chalks” and nearly cult-like and eerie “Rooooooock Chaaaaaaalks.” Hmmm… maybe “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” really means “Worship the Spaghetti Spaceship.” In any event, I had a wonderful time. Sorry MU fans.

Tuesday was both Fat Tuesday and Super Tuesday. I guess you could say it was a “Super Fat Tuesday.” But it wasn’t all that super or fat for me. Usually on this day in Michigan, we would eat pazckis (pronounced Punch-keys). The story is that the Polish immigrants that settled in the Great Lake State would take their extra lard and use it up before Lent by making pazckis, which are a type of jelly donut. I couldn’t find any pazckis in Kansas. (Maybe that was best. My new diet doesn’t allow for pazckis, cookies, or practically anything else that tastes good.) So I didn’t get fat on Tuesday, and the lack of an open Kansas primary is not very super in my opinion.

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday (make a note to attend the service next year if you were not here last night, it was really terrific!) and we also had at least two whole of inches of snow that “buried” the city and caused all the area schools to close. Two inches of snow closes the schools? Are you kidding me? Why in my day… (Oh my I was about to sound like my mom recalling days of waist high snow and sub zero temperatures in which she walked to school uphill, both home and back, as a girl). I think my son Ben’s “Snow Day School Ritual” of putting a spoon under his pillow and wearing his pajamas inside-out the night before must have worked because I have never heard of school being canned for two inches of snow. (By the way, I am not sure where Ben learned of this ritual and I do not know the significance of the inside-out jammies or the spoon. I am slightly worried that I have a closet witch doctor living in my house. ) We were then faced with the decision of what to do about our Ash Wednesday Service, I made the call that Ash Wednesday trumps two inches of snow twelve hours before the service. So in spite of our inclement weather policy that would have had us canceling the service, since the powers that be at the Shawnee Mission schools are “snow fraidy cats,” we had the service. As they say in Hollywood, “On with the show…” I am glad we did too. What a service!

Wednesday I also officiated at the funeral for Henry Langstaff. Henry was a great guy, who loved the Lord. He is walking on the streets of gold where presumably they don’t have two inches of snow and they never cancel worship services.

What is in store for the rest of the week, I can only guess—but I know this—God is in control, and as you grow in the Lord it is sweeter each and every day—whether you eat a paczki or not.

Ash Wednesday Service

Looking Forward to Wednesday Night's Ash Wednesday Service. We will meet together as we begin the season of Lent. Plan on being part of this meaningful service for the whole family.

Surprise, No Surprise

That yesterday was a Super Sunday... no suprise.
That the Giants beat the Patriots... surprise.
That we had a great time praising the Lord, dedicating babies, digging into his word, and celebrating communion... no surprise.
That Pastor Kevin made it nearly through two worship services while very sick... surprise.
That John Hall our Worship and Arts intern stepped in and did a great job at the end of the second service... no surprise.

Sunday should be Super!

I'll be wrapping up the sermon Series: Operation Disciple: The Inner workings of a Disciple. It's family Sunday -- so our grade school children will be worshipping int he sanctuary. We will also celebrate communion together. I heard that they are playing a football game in Arizona in the afternoon this Sunday too. Our youth have two parties planned for the Big Game.

What a deal!

What would you do with $850,000? Buy a new house, car, and Rolex watch? Invest it? Tithe on it? Give it away? Send your pastor on an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii? (I like the way you think!) Well, that could have been my dilemma by the end of the day, because according to an e-mail I received yesterday from a minister in the Republic of Benin, I am the recipient of an ATM credited account of $850,000. All I have to do to receive that boat load of money is send in my bank account information and a $98 processing fee and the 850,000 smackeroos will be mine! WOW! What a deal!

If my math is correct, I would stand to make a profit of $849,902 from that $98 investment. While I would love that to be true, excuse me for being a wee bit skeptical. Maybe I shouldn’t be such a cynic. I just read the story of Howard Schultz, who in 1987 decided to buy a small chain of coffee shops for four million dollars. Maybe you’ve heard of these stores, they are called Starbucks. Well, five years after that initial investment, Starbucks stocks went public and old Howard made 273 million real bucks in one day. Not a bad payout for a four million dollar investment. Still, my ninety-eight dollar investment in an ATM account doesn’t seem to be the same kind of opportunity. Just what exactly is an ATM account, anyway? And why is a minister of the gospel offering such a deal? Most of the preachers I know don’t have that kind of loot. (Present company included, I assure you!) Why does the good Reverend Maxwell Bello of Benin need my bank account information in Kansas? I’ve never been to Benin. I’ve never heard of Benin. Sniff. Sniff. I smell something rotten in Denmark (or Benin to be more geographically correct).

My guess is that these scams work because people wish and dream that they could strike it rich one day—without work and with little effort. “Somehow if I can do nothing and still get rich quick that would be really cool,” they wish upon a star. Presumably, the notion of a windfall for the low, low price of $98 is too much of a temptation. So they dutifully send in their 98 buckaroos and bank account numbers and the next day (“Surprise, surprise,” Gomer Pyle) they discover that they are not only missing their 98 dollars but everything else that was in their savings account.

The old adage is true: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I know of only one completely and totally too good to be true story. Here it is: Jesus Christ gave up the glory and splendor and majesty of heaven for an old rugged cross for you and me. It’s unbelievable but true. While we were unlovable, God loved us. It’s unbelievable but true, that God daily pours out his love on me and you. It’s unbelievable but true, that God longs to be in relationship with people like us. John Newton called it “Amazing Grace.” The Apostle Paul put it this way: But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God's grace that you have been saved! (Ephesians 2:4-6). And there is even more good news; we don’t even have to send in a $98 processing fee to receive it. Wow! What a deal!

Back in Kansas

It's good to be home and good to be back in the blogging world once again. Karla and I enjoyed the time away at the COK conference. We renewed some friendships, were able to rest and relax, and had some meaningful meetings and conversations about pastoring in these days.

I am feeling pretty well (not quite 100%) but pretty well, and will be resuming a full schedule.

Sunday was a good day.... we have such a great church! I really liked the Youth Sponsored Spaghetti Dinner (Yum!) last night and Pastor Padraic preached a fine message.

A wake Up Call

Karla and I will be leaving tomorrow for a conference. So I may be out of the "blogsphere" for a while. If I can, I'll keep on blogging from time to time. The conference is on a cruise ship-- so there will be meetings and rest and sun and hopefully recuperation. I really hope that when we return I'll be able to resume my regular (albeit modified) schedule.

One of the "wake up call moments" of the brain hemorrhage is my realization that I have to make some life style changes. Diet and exercise will be a part of that, but also I am having to come to terms that days off are important, and maintaining a healthy balance of work and rest is important. All of my doctors (especially "Doctor" Karla) are insisting that the pace in which I have kept may not have caused the hemorrhage but did not help the situation. So I will be grappling with some of those areas in the days ahead. If even the Lord needed rest on the seventh day, we are foolish to think that we do not need it. It's a lesson I am learning. Unfortunately it took a brain explosion to teach it.

The Minister became the "ministeree"

Before this last month, my only other stay in a hospital was 32 years ago. I had a really bad tummy ache. Everyone said it was just a tummy ache. Turns out it was a ruptured appendix. So following its grand explosion, I spent ten days hanging out in the hospital and eating McDonald’s burgers (a treat back in those days). I think my mom felt bad about the whole tummy ache diagnosis and, since I was a tad spoiled anyway, and since I was a tad picky on my eating habits, she brought me yummy burgers to eat instead of the awful hospital food. It wasn’t too bad of a deal. For my troubles, I got lots of burgers, a little scar on my side and an autographed picture of Al Kaline (think of him as the Detroit Tiger’s version of George Brett). It’s hanging in my office to this day (the picture of Al Kaline, not my ruptured appendix).

My most recent hospital stay was for a week following the worst headache of my life. As you know, my noggin, like my appendix, had a grand explosion too, also know as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I didn’t get an Al Kaline autograph or McDonald burgers or a scar for my troubles this time around. Karla did bring me a club sandwich from the Cheese Cake Factory one night. I am still a tad picky in my eating (and maybe a tad spoiled) and since I had grown sick of the hospital food (the shoe leather covered in gravy was a little too unappetizing), my lovely bride found me something better to eat. It’s another reason why I love her.

She wasn’t the only one to show me kindness. Not by a long shot. Not a day has passed that I haven’t received a get well card or a thoughtful e-mail telling of family prayer times on my behalf. Moreover, we have consumed many wonderful meals that folks from the church brought into our house during my recuperation. Some wonderful ladies even paid no attention to Karla and her ridiculous rule of “no desserts” and brought cookies, cakes, brownies, ice cream and pie anyway. Thank you for not listening to that silly, silly rule! (I am neither a doctor, nor the son of a doctor, but I say a good way to overcome bad pains in one’s melon is to fill the tummy with yummy treats!)

One family in the church provided our entire Christmas dinner. They made the whole deal. Karla heated it up and brought the ham, sweet taters, beans and yummy cake (and I don’t know what all) into my room at St. Luke’s Hospital. We turned my bed into the buffet line and we had a glorious Christmas dinner. Others secretly passed along money to Karla to help with the extra expenses that we were incurring. And some sent along gift cards to restaurants so that she would not have to take time cooking.

All of this is to say, the minister became the “ministeree.” (I am sure that is not a word, but you know what I mean). Since my little brain hemorrhage the tables have been turned and the people to whom I have ministered to and with the last couple of years have reached out in wonderful ways and ministered to me and my family. I think old Martin Luther would be proud to see “the priesthood of all believers” in action, ministering in such a wonderful way. You know, it’s true: we should all be ministers—whether you have an ordination certificate hanging on your wall or not. Our calling as “Christ follower” means we care for one another and think of ways to share and show the love of Jesus. And many, many people have done that for me these last four weeks.

So thank you Central Nazarene. Thank you for ministering to me. Thank you for the prayers. Thank you for being such a great place to serve. Karla and I are leaving for a conference tomorrow. OK, the truth is that the conference is on a cruise ship… so, I’ll have a few meetings with other pastors of churches similar to ours and hopefully there will be a little more recovery and rest and sun and sea, and I will return completely ready to join you in ministering once again.

Another Day, another doctor

Went to another doctor today-- a neurologist-- who also thought I was coming along nicely. I will see her again in a month. She said the headaches from the brain hemorrhage should be ending soon. Yippeee!

I need to say how well the pastors of central have stepped in-- and done a great job in my absence. We have a great pastoral team at Central and they have proved it this last month!

A Great morning at Central!

Oh it was wonderful being at Central this morning. Great Worship. Great to be in the pulpit. Great seeing the tremendous response to God's word in both services. It was just great!

Tomorrow is only a day away!

I really think God is going to do something great at Central tomorrow. Not simply because I am preaching (I can't wait!!!), but because of all that has happened: brain hemorrhage, still headaches, still fatigued, yet... God will get the glory!

I haven't preached in what seems like forever... and I am so excited to be with the folks of Central and to see what God has in store. We are going to have a great day. I know it!

A Good report

I went to the neurosurgeon today and the report is that I am improving. The nurse practitioner was surprised at how well I was doing. I am not. To God be the glory great things He has done! They say a couple more weeks and I'll be good as new (or at least good as before). God is so good!

I'll be preaching on Sunday... I can't wait. It seems like I haven't preached since last year!

God's Grace is all I need

Headaches are no fun. Thanks to my little brain explosion of a couple of weeks ago, I have had a headache that the doctors say will be around for a couple of more weeks. They have given me drugs to make them go away, and the drugs work…. a little. For the most part, I have come to this conclusion: headaches are just no fun at all.

When you have a headache like mine, little noises sound like a drum and bugle corps is marching through your brain. And sometimes bright lights even hurt your brain. And sometimes when the headache is really, really bad you think “Hmm, I wish I could just cut my head off and I will feel much better.” Of course, I know that cutting off my head would probably not be the wisest decision of my life and might cause a few other complications. So, instead of losing my head, I lay quietly in bed hoping, hoping, hoping that the pain in my brain will somehow reach the level of a jackhammer and thereby become somewhat manageable.

I have prayed, “Lord is there some great lesson I can learn from my headache?” He has given no earth shattering revelations.

I have prayed, “Lord, will this help me better understand the pain others experience?” While I am sure that it will, He has neither confirmed nor denied this truth.

Why share with you this part of my journey? Some of you might be dealing with pain too. And simply because Jesus is our Lord and Savior and Redeemer and Friend does not mean that all pain has henceforth been eliminated from our lives. Sometimes when we are struggling with pain or with life, it’s not easy. I chose to use the word “struggling” in the previous sentence on purpose. Sometimes life can be a struggle. Sometimes it’s hard to smile and say, “Yippee! Yahoo! Everything is great!” when things aren’t so great. Faith is not plastering a phony smile on your face and saying: “Everything is great, when your head feels like the drums in an Ozzy Ozbourne concert and you know good and well that everything is far from great.” Faith sometimes is saying, “I have a great headache, but I have a greater God.” Or “I have a great problem or I have great trouble, but I have a far greater God.” You see, I know this: The God who spared my life and sustains my life and graces my life with His presence will see me through this day. I will trust him. I will rejoice in Him. I will not give in to the temptation that denies a loving and faithful God.”

Paul had an issue that he called “a thorn in his flesh” (read all about it in 2 Corinthians 12). Three times he told us he prayed that God would remove this thorn and three times God said, “Nope!” Oblivious to all HIPAA and privacy laws, Bible scholars have ever since debated what exactly his “thorn” might have been. They have guessed and surmised and suggested everything from bad vision to depression to gout. I certainly don’t want to add to the pool of guesses and I don’t want Paul to file a lawsuit for invasion of his privacy when I get to heaven’s courts, so I won’t make a guess as to what Paul’s thorn might have been. But this I know: Whatever God does with my pain, like Paul, I want to come to the conclusion that God’s grace is all I need. I want to focus on the greatness of God’s grace rather than the greatness of my troubles.

You see, God did not promise us a pain free, trouble free, never-a-problem life, but he did promise to be with us. He promised that even when I walk through the “valley of the shadow of death” (that sounds like a very bad place, doesn’t it?) even in that very bad place, we need not fear because he is with us (see Psalm 23). So I will not fear. I will trust. I will hold on to the fact that He is taking care. And I will proclaim loud and long that God’s grace is sufficient for me.

When you have a very bad day or a very bad headache or a very bad thorn in your flesh, I pray that you will say the same thing: God’s grace is all I need!

A phone call from the ICU

One of the funniest things that happened when I was a little loopy following my brain hemorrhage was the message I left with my secretary on the Friday morning from the ICU. I informed her that I would not be in the office that day... I think I'll play the tape on Sunday. You won't believe it. I neither remember making the call or giving the message... but it is funny.

Getting Back in the saddle

It was good to be at the church for a few hours today and participate in our weekly staff meeting. Good things are happening at Central. Great to have new Worship and Arts Intern Jon Hall also at the staff meeting.

Heard great reports of the services on Sunday. Thanks to Dr. David Nash and Rev. Molly Frei filling in on Sunday.

I still miss Central

I really thought that I would be able to attend Central this morning. Oh do I miss it. Unfortunately last night was a bit rough and I knew I would not be able to attend. I was more sick this morning than I have been all week (why does that happen on Sundays? It's kind of like why do snow storms always seem to happen on Sunday mornings?)

So my worship time this morning consisted of some personal devotion time, listening to the sermon from Nashville First Church of the Nazarene (Gary Henecke is a great preacher), and then watching a local preacher on TV (He will remain nameless-- I would have gotten much more if I listened to two sermons from Gary Henecke).

Thanks for your prayers, the plan is still that I will be in the pulpit next Sunday! I think it will take wild horses to keep me away... I'm getting a little antsy.

A blown head gasket

After Karla commandeered this e-mail last week, I thought I had better take it back over or soon she would be preaching on Sundays and wanting to officiate at weddings. So from my bedside…

I was reading a list of some famous (and infamous) people who passed away in 2007. Among others on the list were people like Anna Nicole Smith, Don Ho, Lady Bird Johnson, Jerry Falwell, Evel Knieval, Kurt Vonnegut, Merv Griffen and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner. I noticed one name that wasn’t on the list: “Rob Prince.” I am told that it very easily could have been. As such, I am keenly aware that I have been given a gift this Christmas season. It wasn’t wrapped in fancy paper. It had no tag from a sender, but I have been given a tremendous gift: Life.

As most of you know, on December 20, 2007, I had a brain hemorrhage, or a brain bleed or in some ways a brain/blood problem. My non-medical, motor city rendering for what took place in my noggin is: A Blown Head Gasket. I definitely do not recommend such an event on the Thursday before Christmas. Imagine your worst headache, times ten, and happening instantly while sipping your morning’s McDonald’s coffee. That was my Thursday morning two weeks ago. While I do not remember much from the first few days, I do recall that in the first few moments before leaving my desk, thinking “Wow, I think I am either having a stroke or a brain aneurism.” I also remember praying: “Lord, I am pretty sure that you and I are OK, just be with my family in the next few days.” I’ll be honest-- that’s a very, very weird prayer to pray.

Well, since I am writing this e-mail, it’s fairly obvious that God has been with my family and me these last two weeks. I am doing well, and while fighting fatigue and headaches, the doctors are expecting a full recovery without any surgeries. Here are a few observations from the last few weeks:

1) Life can change in an instant. Be ready. Always be ready to meet with God.

2) Our Central family is awesome! I have received so many cards and reminders of how the church is suppose to act and love. Thank you Central Nazarene!!!

3) Hospital Food is not nearly as good as Central food. Many meals, yummy meals have been sent to our house. Thanks again, Central Naz!

4) If I saw you in my first two hospital days, please allow me to offer this disclaimer: I said many goofy things either as a result of 1) the brain hemorrhage, or 2) the medication for the brain hemorrhage. So disregard anything I may have said. Here’s one example: One of my ICU nurses asked me if I ever introduced myself as “Roberto.” When I said, “Never,” she informed me that was exactly how I introduced myself to her and what I wanted her to call me on that fateful Thursday. Weird. Very Weird. Please no one call me, “Pastor Roberto.”

5) Two facts from the week of the “Blown head gasket:”
Fact #1: The doctors believe that a spike in my blood pressure caused the hemorrhage.
Fact #2: Less than 24 hours before the “blown head gasket,” my 16 year old cherub, Alex, received his first ever Kansas Driver’s License.
Alex insists that Fact #1 has no correlation to Fact #2. He’s probably right.

6) As I enter 2008, I anticipate making a few life changes this year. I’ll probably exercise more, eat less fries and more salads, and in all things appreciate the moments of grace and joy that the Lord provides every, single day. (I see my doctor today; he might offer a few more suggestions).

7) I am very appreciative of a great wife, a loving family, a wonderful church and a gracious Lord who never left my side.

Went to the doc today

I went to the doctor today. "So far so good" was the non medical assessment of my situation. I see my other doctor in a week and have to make a couple of appointments with a couple of other doctors in the coming weeks. I went from being basically healthy and rarely seeing a doctor to becoming a medical professional groupie. Ah well, hopefully this will set a course for a healthy many years to come!

Thanks again for all the cards, e-mails, meals and other signs of love that many of you have shown myself and my family. We have felt very loved!

Wedneday at Central

I thought I might try to come out and see some folks at the church tonight.... but I think I over did it some today. I wrote out a few "thank yous," undecorated a tree, boxed up some gifts that didn't get delivered to Michigan and that pretty much used up the energy pile for the day.

Ah well, I love Wednesdays at Central. Unless I am counselling someone or meeting with a group, usually I am just hanging out, greeting people and enjoying the fellowship of being with God's people. So, I'll miss tonight. Enjoy the evening at Central!

Happy New Year!

Yippee! 2008!
What an awesome year is ahead! God has great things in store! People will find Jesus this year as their Lord, Savior and Friend. People who right now have no hope will discover the hope of Christ. I can't wait to see 2008 as the greatest year for Christ that I have ever witnessed!